Morris Twp. Police Share Warnings on Security, Strangers and Secrets

Speaking before the Alfred Vail School HSA on Tuesday night, Morris Township School Resource Officer Heather Glogolich had a very direct message for parents and guardians: what it takes to keep children safe is changing. 

"We all know the obvious things when it comes to safety," Glogolich said. "Try the candy first after your kids go out for Halloween, stay away from homemade treats. But there are more things to consider when it comes to safety."

For Halloween specifically, Glogolich said that children are twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than any other time of the year. 

"Its dark, kids are darting in and out of the road," Glogolich said. "But we can encourage them to make their own bags for candy and put reflective things all over it and send them out with a flashlight."

Glogolich also said it is important to remind them not to go into strangers homes. 

"What I really want to preach is the, and this is something that is new to me, is the new way to view stranger danger," Glogolich said.

Glogolich said that there are good strangers and bad strangers.

"I try to explain to them what makes me a good stranger. A police officer you don't know is a stranger, but a good stranger,"  Glogolich said. "That is a stranger you can trust. So please continue to remind your kids strangers can definitely be women, other kids and high school students."

Secret Is a Bad Word

Glogolich impressed upon parents that losing the word "secret" from their vernacular was important when relating to their children.

"A lot of my training with the Morris County Prosecutors Office and sitting in on interviews with children who are victimized. 'Lets keep it as a secret' is often something told to these children. The word secret is not a word to use with your kids," Glogolich said. "Use surprises. Surprises are good things, they always are. My kids can’t keep secrets. They aren’t allowed to use the word secret, it is a bad word in my house."

 Answer the Door When Home Alone

Glogolich said that the whole mentality of kids being home alone has changed.

"When I was growing up we were told not to answer the door if someone came knocking," Glogolich said. "Don’t tell your kids to not answer the door."

According to Glogolich burglars, who are more likely to strike during the day, will enter a home they think is empty. 

"They want to keep it as a property crime," Glogolich said. "Burglars are different than robbers."

Glogolich was clear she didn't mean the door should be opened, but creative solutions like asking who is there and offering to get a parent for them is enough of a deterrent through a closed door.